When Anastacia Newkirk opens her mouth, you know you've been Tangoed. She's of the school of rock belters that believes if it's worth singing, it's worth singing loudly, and her third album is a particularly gut-busting affair. Endowed with a muscular alto that automatically storms to the top of its range on almost every song, she's nothing if not confident, and a lesson to the twittery Kylies of this world. But while her complete immersion in what US radio would call "modern rock" is commercially timely, it comes up short in the light-and-shade department. With ballads restricted to a couple of strummy ambles, it's a full-on, outta-my-way stomp that leaves you worse for wear within minutes.
That said, it helps to know it was recorded last year as a fightback from her breast-cancer diagnosis, and as such is a powerful screw-you to the disease. Apparent references pop up: "It's not OK, I don't feel safe," runs the chorus to Left Outside Alone, and on Sick and Tired she claims: "I'm sick and tired of being sick and tired." She sounds it. All you can say about this one is that it's best in small servings.
